Scientists run these dolphin tours as part of their research on these beloved aquatic animals, so you know this will be an interesting trip. Passengers will be able to see how researchers with the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research, a nonprofit organization, conduct their research and hear about some of the discoveries from more than a decade of studies and monitoring. Some of the hundreds of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the area show up so frequently they’ve even been given names, like “Rake,” “Scarlet,” and “Onion.”

The tour boat is located at Kitty Hawk Kites/Whalebone Watersports on the U.S. 64 Causeway. Conducted on a 40-foot covered pontoon boat in the Roanoke Sound, the trip takes more than two hours.

Along the way, researchers will talk about their work and share their discoveries from their ongoing study.

While the boat is moving, dolphins will be playing in their natural habitat alongside the vessel. Passengers will also learn about the pelicans, osprey and other birds that congregate in the sounds, as well as the ecology and history of this dynamic area. Tours are given twice daily on Monday and Saturday, and three times daily Tuesday through Friday. Call ahead for times and reservations.